Malawian Bishop Joseph Zuza to be laid to rest on Monday

Malawian Bishop, Joseph Mukasa Zuza of Mzuzu Diocese who died on Thursday, this week in a tragic road traffic accident will be put to rest on Monday, 19 January. The Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, Archbishop Julio Murat, has confirmed that he will attend the burial. The Nuncio is based in Lusaka, Zambia.

Bishop Zuza will be buried at Katoto Catholic Cemetery  in Mzuzu Diocese after a requiem Mass.

Bishop Zuza who was born in 1955 has been described by  the Malawian Government as a patriot and development-conscious Church leader who was a partner of the Government’s development agenda.

Malawi24 news says President Peter Mutharika has said he joins all “Malawians in expressing condolences and great sympathy to the family of the Bishop, the Catholic Church and the greater Malawi on the loss of a patriotic and development conscious Church Leader who was a partner of Government,” the Malawian President said.

Many in Malawi have reminisced on how as President of the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Zuza rebuked former Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika for his autocratic leadership. At the time, it was not a popular thing to do. Bishop Zuza is said to have advised the President to stop gagging civil society, the media and the faith community, saying they had a role to play in safeguarding democracy and the rule of law.

 “They tell us (clergy) not to interfere with politics; we are seen as intruders. They say that civil society organisations were not elected; yes they were indeed not elected but they are working for the good of the nation,” He then went on to tell the President that he should not think he was a perfect leader.

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